Apparatus for producing brush sections

ABSTRACT

Apparatus for producing brush sections of the type used in heavy-duty work and consisting of bristles anchored in a retaining channel and extending outwardly therefrom. The apparatus feeds the bristles and bends them into hair pin or Uform, feeds the channel-forming metal strip and forms it into an outwardly opening channel, feeds the U-formed bristles over and into the outwardly opening channel, and crimps the sides of the channel inwardly at intervals to clamp the bristles therein, all of these operations being performed in a continuous advance of the materials through the apparatus.

United States Patent 1 Drumm APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING BRUSH SECTIONS [76] Inventor: Arthur E. Drumm, Rt. 1,

Marysville, Ohio 43040 [22] Filed: July 25, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 274,912

[52] US. Cl. 300/2 [51] Int. Cl A46d 3/05 [58] Field of Search 300/2, 21

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,941,343 12/1933 Epp 300/2 3,178,230 4/1965 Carlson et a1 300/2 1,871,775 8/1932 Cave 300/21 2,616,763 11/1952 Vose et al.. 300/2 X 3,264,035 8/1966 Jones 300/2 Dec. 4, 1973 3,594,044 7/1971 Koback .1 300/2 Primary ExaminerGranville Y. Custer, .lr.

AttorneyWilliam V. Miller et al.

[5 7 ABSTRACT Apparatus for producing brush sections of the type used in heavy-duty work and consisting of bristles anchored in a retaining channel and extending outwardly therefrom. The apparatus feeds the bristles and bends them into hair pin or U-form, feeds the channelforming metal strip and forms it into an outwardly opening channel, feeds the U-formed bristles over and into the outwardly opening channel, and crimps the sides of the channel inwardly at intervals to clamp the bristles therein, all of these operations being performed in a continuous advance of the materials through the apparatus.

10 Claims, 23 Drawing Figures PATENTED 3,776,596

SHEU 1 UP 8 APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING BRUSH SECTIONS Brush sections used on heavy duty sweepers usually consist of a metal channel in which the inner ends of hairpin-shaped or U-shaped bristles are anchored so that they project outwardly therefrom. The bristles are anchored in the channel by a wire extending longitudinally through their inner ends, the wire and bristles being clamped in the channel by crimping of the sides of the channel at longitudinally spaced intervals. Sometimes the brush sections are used as straight sections but usually they are formed into annular shape and the adjacent ends are suitably secured together.

These sections are commonly made'by inefficient hand operations which are time-consumming, difficult and costly and which do not result in products of consistently good quality.

The present invention provides a continuous machine which receives the bristle-forming material, the channel forming material and the anchoring wire at separate locations, moves these various materials into cooperative relationship while properly forming them, and combines them in such a manner that the bristles are anchored in the channel by the crimping of the channel around the wire and the inner bent ends of the U-shaped bristles to retain them in the channel. This results in the production of brush sections of uniformly good quality at a relatively low cost.

The best mode comtemplated in-carrying out this invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view illustrating the main operations of the apparatus of this invention.

FIG. 2 is a view, partly in side elevation and partly in vertical section, of the apparatus of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a vertical transverse sectional view taken along line 33 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged longitudinal vertical sectional view taken through the bristle bending unit of the apparatus of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a vertical transverse sectional view taken along line 55 of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a vertical transverse sectional view taken along line 66 of FIG. 4.

FIG. 7 is anenlarged plan view taken along line 77 of FIG. 4.

FIG. 8 is an enlarged plan view taken from the position indicated at line 88 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 9 is an enlarged plan view taken from the position indicated at line 99 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 10 is a transverse vertical sectional view taken along line 1'010 of FIG. 4.

FIG. 11 is a tranverse vertical sectional view taken along line 11-1l of FIG. 9.

FIG. 12 is alongitudinal vertical sectional view *taken along line 1212 of'FIG. 11.

FIG. 13 is a transverse verticalsectional view taken along line 1313 of FIG. 12.

FIG. 14 is an enlarged longitudinal vertical sectional view taken along line 1'414 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 15 is an enlarged vertical transverse sectional view taken along line -1'515 of FIG.

FIG. 16 is an elevationalview taken'fromtheposition indicatedby line 16-16 of FIG. '15.

FIG. 17 is a side elevational view of a split ring secthereby resulting in a strip 'of upstanding hairpin- FIG. 18 is an enlarged detail in side elevation showing the connector being applied to the split ends of the section.

FIG. 19 is a similar view showing the connector fixed in place to connect the ends of the section.

FIG. 20 is a transverse sectional view taken along line 20-20 of FIG. 19.

FIG. 21 is an elevational view of a helical section of brush completed by the machine of this invention.

FIG. 22 is a side elevational view illustrating an attachment for the machine resulting in the production of a straight'brush section.

FIG. 23 is aside elevational view of a straight brush section produced with the attachement of FIG. 22.

With specific reference to FIG. 1 of the drawings, the bristle-forming material is received in the form of an elongated strip or'mat 25 composed of transversely extending strands 26 which are glued, stitched or otherwise secured together along the center line of the strip, .as indicated at 28, (FIG. 7) in such a manner that they will be maintained in transverse parallel relationship. This type of materialis commonly available in the art either as strands of wire or strands of plastic, such as nylon. In the following description reference will be made to a mat or strip of bristle forming material but this reference is intended to cover the body of material whether or not the strands are actually connected to- .gether."-I-he mm 25 is fed onto a shelf or table 27, which is supported at oneendof'a main frame 30, and it may be fed from a suitably supported roll or, if the strands are not connected, from a suitable box or container (notshown). Apair of opposed laterally adjustable and longitudinally adjustable guide bars 29 may be provided at oppositesides of the table surface for guiding the mat 25. Supported on a transverse horizontal axis '31 above :the table 27 is anidler roll or wheel 32 (FIGS. .1 and 4) which is carried by a bifurcated arm 33 extending downwardly and outwardly from the end of the frame .30. This roll 32 hasa continuous groove 34 extending around its circumference, (FIG. 4) which receives a bristle-anchoring wire 35. This wire may be fed from 'asuitably mounted roll (not shown). Also, a filler stripor ribbon 36-of plastic or paper, may be fed from a'suitable roll (not shown) over the wire 35 and around the circumference of the roll 32. A U-shaped cross- -section guard and guide member 37 may straddle the roll 32 for aportionofitsangular extent, extending upwardly and outwardly just above the table 27 and spaced above the mat 25 supported thereon. The mat 25 will be engaged at'its upper side along its center line by the 'lower edge of the roll 32. The wire 35 will be positioned in the-groove 34 of the roll and the ribbon 36 willbe clamped between the wire and the mat 25. Tension is maintained on the wire 35 and the band 36 by azpull on the wire 35, as will later appear, and this produces rotation of the roll 32 about the axis 31. On opwith forwardly opening slots 37a which extend parallel to the plane of the wheel.

From the wheel 32,'the'mat.25 is .advanced into association with -a bristle-bending unit 40 which will successively and progressively bend the transversely extending strands 26 upwardly and laterally inwardly along .a line corresponding to the center line of the mat,

shaped or U-shaped bristles. This unit 40 is illustrated .in FIGS. 1 to 7.

The unit 40 includes the longitudinally extending mandrel bar 41 which overlies the center line of the mat 25 and which has a downwardly-opening guide groove that receives the wire 35. The wire is pressed downwardly by the mandrel bar 41 into contact with the ribbon 36 and the mat 25 which are moved along with the wire as it is pulled through the guidegroove in the bar. The bar 41 is suitably suspended from the frame 30 at a level so that the wire will move through its guide groove and will frictionally engage the ribbon on the mat 25 to carry them along to aid in moving the mat 25 along as it is folded upwardly. The driven sprocket chains 42 are provided along opposite sides of the longitudinally extending bar 41 for also aiding in moving the mat or strip progressively. Each of the chains is provided with inwardly disposed upwardly extending push-fingers 43 which are disposed at regular intervals therealong and are adapted to engage with the mat 25 at its opposite sides as it is folded upwardly, the fingers successively moving between the strands 26 to help push the mat along. The sprocket chains 42 are mounted in a common horizontal plane just below the level of the lower edge of the wheel 32, each being an endless chain carried by a driven sprocket 44 and idler sprockets 45, 46, 47 and 48 the sprockets being suitably supported on the frame 30.

It will be noted from FIG. 1 that the inner runs 42a of the chains 42 are parallel and extend longitudinally from beneath the table 27 through the slots 37 therein forwardly on opposite sides of the bar 41 and parallel thereto. It will also be noted from FIGS. 2 and 4 that the rear end of the mandrel bar 41 is angled and extends into cooperation with the wheel 32 with which it aligns so that it is in a common longitudinal vertical plane therewith ahead of the forward edge of the table 27. It will further be noted that the bar 41 is so supported that it inclines forwardly and downwardly as it passes between the inner runs 42a of the chains 42.

The drive for the sprockets 44 of the chains 42 is illustrated in FIG. 3 as comprising upstanding shafts 51 rotatably supported at opposite sides of the frame 30, which have the sprockets keyed on their upper ends. The lower ends of the shafts 51 are geared by bevel gears 52 to a common transverse driven shaft 53 which is driven from a suitable source of power by a chain and sprocket drive 54.

The means provided at the unit 40 for gradually folding up the strands 26 of the mat 25 comprises a lower pair of fold rods 55 and an upper pair of fold rods 56. Each pair of fold rods consists of rods on opposite sides of the mandrel bar 41. The lower rods 55 extend on opposite sides of the mandrel bar 41 substantially at the level of the lower edge of the bar and parallel to the bar, from the forward edge of the table 27 on opposite sides of the lower edge of the wheel 32 and forwardly and downwardly the length of the bar. It will be noted '(FIG. 4) that the bar 41 and the rods 55 do extend forwardly and downwardly to a level slightly below that of the inner runs 42a of the chains 42. The forward ends of the rods 55 have depending blades 55a (FIGS.110 to 12) which, as will later appear, help guide the strands 26 into a receiving channel. The upper rods 56 extend upwardly and forwardly to levels substantially higher than the bar 41 but are disposed'on opposite sides of the bar in parallel vertical longitudinally extending planes. However, at their rear ends the rods 56 diverge rearwardly and turn downwardly as indicated at 56a and form a throat adjacent the wheel 32. The rods 56 extend forwardly and horizontally at a substantially higher level than the inner runs 420 of the chains. The result is that as the mat 25 is engaged by the fingers 43 of the chains 42, which move beneath it, it will be advanced forwardly beneath the wheel 32 (FIGS. 4 and 5) which will bend it down slightly between the rear ends of the parallel rods 55, which are at a slightly lower level than the table as is the lower edge of the wheel 32. At the same time, the wire 35 is fed into the groove of the mandrel 41 and the strands 26 start to bend upwardly over the lower edge of the wirecontaining mandrel bar 41. If the tiller strip 36 is used, this will also be applied to the lower edge of the mandrel bar at this time. Continued advance of the folding mat or strip 25 will cause the upwardly bending strands 26 to be engaged by the diverging ends 560 of the rods 56 (FIGS. 6 and 8) and to be gradually folded upwardly and inwardly as they pass on between the main portions of the rods 56. Inclination of the mandrel 55 and provision of the bars 55, plus the horizontal plane of the rods 56 progressively bends the strands 26 into U-form as indicated by a comparison of FIGS. 5, 6 and 10. Thus, the strands 26 of the mat 25 are gradually folded upwardly and inwardly around the lower edge of the bar 41 until they are of upstanding U or hairpin form (FIG. 10).

As previously indicated, the U-formed bristles 26 of the continuous member 25 are fed into association with a receiving channel of helical form which is indicated at 60. This channel is formed and fed into position, to receive the member 25, by the unit 65 indicated best in FIGS. 1 and 2.

The channel 60 is usually formed from a band of metal 61 which may be provided on a supply roll 610. This band 61 is fed between a set of forming rolls 62. These rolls are of the usual type provided in shaping channels and consist of a series of pairs of upper and lower rolls which progressively gradually turn the edges of the flat strip 61 upwardly to form the channel. When the channel passes from the last pair of rolls it is engaged by a guide roll 62a. The guide roll is carried by a pendulum arm 63 for swinging movement about the axis 64 of the upper of the last pair of forming rolls 62. The pendulum arm may be swung about or adjusted radially of the axis 64 by means of an adjusting screw 66. The guide roll 62a will direct the formed channel upwardly and actually bend it into a helical form which will wrap around a support bar and angularly disposed guide rods 70a which maintain its diameter. The bar 70 extends transversely of the machine at a level above the rolls 62. The adjustment of the arm 63 by the screw 66 will determine the diameter of the helix 60. The helix 60 will hang from the rod 70 and guide rods 70a and will slide axially therealong.

As indicated in FIG. 1, the bar 30 extends across the machine and it will be noted in FIG. 1 that this bar is at the forward end of the mandrel bar'41, forming a T therewith. The bar 70 is suitably supported in this relationship and at the indicated level by the frame 30. The helix 60 is pushed along the bar 70, as it is formed, until one of its convolutions is substantially tangential with the forwardly feeding bristle member 25 (FIGS. 1 and 9), feeding over the upwardly opening helix channel 60. Immediately after feeding of the member 25 into the channel 60, the sides of the channel are crimped to retain the member in the channel. This is accomplished by the crimping rolls 75 which are keyed to the same driven sprocket shafts 71 that carry the forwardmost sprockets 46, being disposed directly below the sprockets but just above the level of the bar 70. As indicated in FIGS. 9, l1 and 12 these rolls produce the indentations 72 in the sides of the channel 60 at regular longitudinal intervals in the upper edge portions thereof (FIG. 13). At the same time, the lower halves 75a'of rollers 75 form the walls of the channel, as indicated by broken lines in FIG. 13, to provide shoulders 73 at each side of the channel directly below the crimped upper portions thereof. The crimping rolls 76 also pull along the wire 35 with the crimped channel. It will be noted.

from FIGS. 11 and 12 that the bar 70 is split and recessed at its midpoint where the longitudinally feeding member 25 and the revolving and axially moving helix 60 come together and directly below this point is a grooved idler support roller 76 which is carried by the bar. This roller is also directly below the crimping rollers 75 and the support roller 76 serves to support the convolution of the helix at the proper level to receive the upstanding bristle member 25 as it is advanced thereinto. It will be noted in FIG. 11 that the guide flanges 75a of the roller 76 position the convolution of the helix 60 in alignment with the mandrel bar 41 and the member 25 carried thereby. In addition to the grooved support roller 76, another support roller 77 is supported by yokes 78 which are carried by support bars 79 extending rearwardly from the bar 70. It will be noted from FIG. 12 that the helix 60 advances in a clockwise direction and that the roller 77 is at the rear side of the bar 70 and will tend to guide the convolution up over the roller 76. Blades 55a also help to guide the strands 26 into the channel.

To form the convolutions of the crimped bristlecontaining convolutions of the helix 60 into convolutions of the desired diameter, the guide and gripping rollers 80 are provided as indicated in FIG. 9 and 12 and cooperate with the pair of rollers 7777a. These rollers 80 are arranged in a pair to engage opposite sides of the helix channel 60. It will be noted from FIG. 13 and from the previous explanation, that continuous shoulders are provided on opposite sides of the channel and this pair of rollers engages these shoulders to properly position and form the channel with a curvature to give the end convolution the proper diameter as it feeds therebetween. These rollers 80 are carried by a yoke 81a on the outer end of a screw support arm 81 which is threaded through a support block 82 and is adjustable axially relative thereto by a knob 83. The block 82 is supported from the bar 70 by a depending yoke 84 and may be clamped in various tilted positions by means of a clamp screw 85c. With this arrangement the pair of guide and forming rollers 80 may be positioned radially as desired by adjustment of the screw 81 and vertically as desired by tilting the block 82, and then may be locked in these adjusted positions. The rollers 80 will bend the channel about the roller 76 since the channel is held between the rollers 77-774 at a location behind the roller 76, the rollers 80 being disposed at a selected distance for wardly of it to obtain the desired diameter helix 60.

After the member 25 and the channel helix 60 are combined and are crimped at the crimping rollers 75, the helix assembly 600 continues to revolve and feed along the bar 70 at the opposite side of the center line of the machine, as indicated in FIG. 1. However, at this side of the machine, the bar carried a helical guide plate 85. This guide plate has its convolutions extending around the bar 70 and welded thereto. The convolutions of the guide plate are spaced sufficiently to permit the helix assembly 60a to thread therethrough and move along the bar 70. The outwardly extending convolutions of the plate serve to keep the convolutions of the assembly 60a apart so as to prevent tangling of the strands 26 of adjacent convolutions of the assembly. At the outer end extremely of the helical plate 85, it is provided with angularly spaced outwardly extending guide pins 85a to accurately determine the diameter of the helix as it comes off the machine. These pins are radially adjustable in guide slots 85b (FIG. 16).

In FIG. 14, there is indicated a scale arrangement for indicating the final diameter of the helix assembly 60a. It includes the grooved roller 86 which engages the channel of the assembly 60a at its inner curved surface. This roller 86 is carried at the inner end of one arm of a bellcrank lever 87 which is fulcrumed at 88 to a fixed part of the frame 30. This lever moves about its fulcrum 88 in accordance with changes in diameter of the helix created by adjustment of the forming rollers 80. This actuates an indicating rod 89 which carries a pointer that cooperates with a fixed scale 90a. Thus, the diameter of the convolutions of the helix assembly 60a is indicated in accordance with the radial adjustment of rollers 80.

Some friction is created by the helical assembly 60a being rotated and pushed along the bar 70. Therefore, if desired between the convolutions of the helical guide plate 85, the bar may be provided with antifriction rollers or sleeves (not shown) to reduce this friction.

In some cases it is desirable to provide a helix brush section. If so, the formed helix assembly 60a is cut to the desired length by any suitable shearing tool. Thus, as shown in FIG. 21, a desired length 60b of the helix assembly may be cut in a suitable manner from the continuously feeding assembly 60a moving along the bar In most cases, it is desired to provide circular brush sections of the type indicated at 600 in FIG. 17. This is provided by cutting one convolution from the leading end of the continuously feeding helix assembly 60a. For this purpose, a shearing unit of the type shown in FIGS. 1, 15 and 16 may be located at the discharge end of the bar 70. This unit consists of a fixed shearing knife blade 96 and a cooperating movable shearing knife blade 97. The blade 96 is disposed at the outer end 98 of the helical guide blade 85 which is backed up by an upstanding support 99. This support has a lower horizontal arm 100 extending outwardly therefrom which has a fulcrum at 101 for an upstanding lever 1 02. Swinging movement for the shearing action is accomplished by a cylinder and piston unit 105 connected to the upper end thereof at 104 and pivotally carried by support 99. The cylinder can be actuated manually or automatically to shear the annular section 600 from the assembly 60a at the proper interval, cutting the channel which is passing between the separated knives 96 and 97 (FIG. 15) at this time. The brush assembly 600 will revolve around the bar 70 and feed axially until its leading end strikes the upstanding stop 103 on the outer end of support arm 100. Then the shear is operated to cut the 360 section 600 from the helix. This section 60c will be of annular form but will have split ends at 106 as indicated in FIGS. 17 to 20. To join the ends, a

channel-shaped clip 107 may be slipped over the adjacent ends and be secured in place as by spot welding 107a. A continuous spiral of undetermined length is also possible without using stop plate 103, as previously indicated.

In other instances, it may be desirable to provide a straight brush section as indicated at 60d in FIG. 23. This straight section is produced in the manner indicated in FIG. 22. Instead of providing the rollers 80 to guide the helix assembly 60a around the bar 70, as in FIG. 12, a grooved roller 80a is provided to direct it in a straight path forwardly. This roller may be carried by one of the arms 81 in the same manner as the rollers 80 for adjustment forwardly or rearwardly and vertically. Thus, as the members 25 and 60 are assembled into the assembly, the assembly will be straightened and directed forwardly in a straight line producing the straight section 60d of FIG. 23.

It will be apparent from the above description that this invention forms and assembles various materials into brush sections continuously and progressively in an economical manner. The machine is particularly useful for producing brush-sections of helical form which can be cut into annular split sections if desired. Also, if desired the machine can be modified slightly to produce straight sections. The entire forming and assembling is accomplished in a continuous progressive advance of the materials through the machine.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed 1. Apparatus for producing sweeper brush sections which include a channel having bristles anchored therein which comprises a feeding and forming unit for receiving a body or mat of bristle-forming strands and bending them into a strip of bristles of U-form and a feeding and forming unit for feeding and forming a strip of material into an outwardly opening channel, said units being so positioned relatively as to feed the U- formed strands into the outwardly opening channel, and means for crimping the walls of the channel to hold the U-formed bristles therein, said channel feeding and forming unit'including means for forming the channel into a helix and feeding it axially with its axis at substantially a right angle to said U-formed bristle strip which is advanced into association with said helix which has its channel opening outwardly, the feeding of the strip being tangential to a convolution of the helix which receives the strip, said bristle-forming unit including a longitudinally extending mandrel bar along which the mat is moved and around which the strands are bent as it is advanced.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 in which the bristle forming and feeding unit comprises driven chains with strand-engaging cleats which extend along opposite sides of the mandrel, and forming bars disposed along opposite sides of the mandrel and into engagement with which the mat'is forced by said strand-engaging cleats moved along by the chains.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2 in which the mandrel has a wire-receiving groove on the one edge about which the bristle strands are bent, and means for feeding the wire into the groove.

4. Apparatus according to claim 3 including means for feeding a filler strip between the wire and the mat before bending the strands.

5. Apparatus according to claim 1 in which the means for forming the channel includes adjustable means for engaging it to form it into the helix and in which a support bar is provided for the helix and along which it is moved, said support bar extending at a right angle to the mandrel which has its end terminating adjacent the support bar and substantially in the plane thereof.

6. Apparatus according to claim 5 in which a. support roller is provided in association with said support bar intermediate its ends for supporting the convolution of the helix channel as the bristle strip is inserted therein.

7. Apparatus according to claim 6 including rollers for engaging the bristle and channel assembly as it is moved along the support bar to form its convolutions into the desired diameter.

8. Apparatus according to claim 7 including cutting means disposed adjacent the bar for engaging the assembly to cut desired sections therefrom.

9. Apparatus according to claim 5 including a forming roller disposed adjacent the support bar for engaging the helix and straightening it to form a straight brush section. 1

10. Apparatus according to claim 8 including stop means for engaging the leading end of the helix before actuation of the cutting means. 

1. Apparatus for producing sweeper brush sections which include a channel having bristles anchored thereiN which comprises a feeding and forming unit for receiving a body or mat of bristleforming strands and bending them into a strip of bristles of Uform and a feeding and forming unit for feeding and forming a strip of material into an outwardly opening channel, said units being so positioned relatively as to feed the U-formed strands into the outwardly opening channel, and means for crimping the walls of the channel to hold the U-formed bristles therein, said channel feeding and forming unit including means for forming the channel into a helix and feeding it axially with its axis at substantially a right angle to said U-formed bristle strip which is advanced into association with said helix which has its channel opening outwardly, the feeding of the strip being tangential to a convolution of the helix which receives the strip, said bristle-forming unit including a longitudinally extending mandrel bar along which the mat is moved and around which the strands are bent as it is advanced.
 2. Apparatus according to claim 1 in which the bristle forming and feeding unit comprises driven chains with strand-engaging cleats which extend along opposite sides of the mandrel, and forming bars disposed along opposite sides of the mandrel and into engagement with which the mat is forced by said strand-engaging cleats moved along by the chains.
 3. Apparatus according to claim 2 in which the mandrel has a wire-receiving groove on the one edge about which the bristle strands are bent, and means for feeding the wire into the groove.
 4. Apparatus according to claim 3 including means for feeding a filler strip between the wire and the mat before bending the strands.
 5. Apparatus according to claim 1 in which the means for forming the channel includes adjustable means for engaging it to form it into the helix and in which a support bar is provided for the helix and along which it is moved, said support bar extending at a right angle to the mandrel which has its end terminating adjacent the support bar and substantially in the plane thereof.
 6. Apparatus according to claim 5 in which a support roller is provided in association with said support bar intermediate its ends for supporting the convolution of the helix channel as the bristle strip is inserted therein.
 7. Apparatus according to claim 6 including rollers for engaging the bristle and channel assembly as it is moved along the support bar to form its convolutions into the desired diameter.
 8. Apparatus according to claim 7 including cutting means disposed adjacent the bar for engaging the assembly to cut desired sections therefrom.
 9. Apparatus according to claim 5 including a forming roller disposed adjacent the support bar for engaging the helix and straightening it to form a straight brush section.
 10. Apparatus according to claim 8 including stop means for engaging the leading end of the helix before actuation of the cutting means. 